Deezer Launches Artist-Approved Song Remix Feature for Music Fans

Global music streaming platform Deezer announced on Wednesday the launch of Remix Lab. This new feature enables fans to create their own versions of songs with the permission of the original artists and rights holders. The company also says artists will continue to earn royalties every time one of these officially supported remixes is streamed.

The new Remix Lab experience is available within the Deezer app on selected artists’ profile pages. Rather than relying on generative AI to produce remixes, Deezer has chosen an approach centred on built-in creative tools. Users can modify elements such as tempo, apply reverb effects, or make more advanced changes that alter a track’s musical genre or overall style, according to Deezer Head of Product Pierre Trochu in a blog post announcing the feature.

The approach differs from that of several competing streaming platforms. YouTube currently allows creators to generate remixes with AI-powered tools, while Spotify recently partnered with Universal Music Group to introduce AI-generated covers and remixes. Critics of these AI-driven features argue that they increase the amount of machine-generated music on streaming services, making it more difficult for human artists to gain visibility and connect with listeners.

Deezer has consistently taken a different position on artificial intelligence in music. The company recently introduced a tool capable of analysing playlists imported from streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music to identify tracks created using AI. Deezer is also among the few major music platforms that actively remove AI-generated songs from their recommendation engines and exclude them from editorial playlists.

“This remix tool perfectly embodies our vision of offering a product that enriches the listening experience for fans by allowing them to participate in the creative process and create a deeper connection with their favourite music, directly in the Deezer app,” CEO Alexis Lanternier said in a statement. “True to our DNA, these features are made possible with the full participation of the artists, fully respecting rights, and maximising earnings for each track.”

Initially, Remix Lab is being rolled out only in France, although Deezer says it plans to expand availability to additional countries in the future. The launch stands out in the music streaming industry because it moves in a direction that contrasts sharply with the growing reliance on AI-generated music across many competing platforms. If the feature proves successful with both artists and listeners, it could demonstrate that the future of music streaming is not limited to AI-created content.

The initiative could also provide a model for how streaming services can compensate artists fairly while still allowing fans to reinterpret their favourite songs creatively. At launch, users can remix tracks from a selection of French artists, including Céline Dion, Alain Souchon, Alonzo, Ronisia, Mosimann, Tiakola, and Zaho.

In addition to the new remix tools, Deezer is inviting users to participate in contests hosted through the Deezer Club. Winners, who will be announced in early September, will have their remixes featured in a dedicated Deezer playlist. Each winning participant will also receive two tickets to a Deezer Purple Door event, along with exclusive merchandise from the featured artist.